EAST RUTHERFORD — Deonte Banks has not lived up to his status as a first-round draft pick.

The third-year Giants cornerback suffered what he described Tuesday as a “sophomore slump” last season because he struggled with “finishing plays.”

Banks was routinely beaten by opposing NFL teams’ top wide receivers and faced public scrutiny for showing poor effort on certain plays, leading to the Giants benching him in the second quarter of a Monday night game at Pittsburgh.

“I’m just getting better every day,” said the often short-worded Banks when asked if he feels urgency to live up to the hype that came with being the 24th overall pick out of Maryland.

Much of the pre-draft talk in 2023 was that Banks excelled primarily in man coverage and would be less effective in zone schemes.

That has rung true as Banks regressed from his rookie to sophomore season when the Giants changed coordinators from Wink Martindale to Shane Bowen, who utilizes more complicated zone defenses.

But the Giants hope that signing Paulson Adebo in March to become their top corner will take pressure off of Banks, and that Banks will improve with a year of experience under Bowen.

“I definitely feel more comfortable, just because it’s my second year on this defense, so I feel good,” Banks said.

The Giants also brought in a new cornerbacks coach in Jeff Burris and a new secondary coach Marquand Manuel. Banks said he likes how they teach and communicate with him.

Still, it’s not a given that Banks will be the No. 2 corner as the Giants have had him splitting first-team reps with fourth-year pro Cor’Dale Flott during training camp to compete for a starting job.

“It’s good competition,” head coach Brian Daboll said. “Competition brings out the most in people most of the time.”

In terms of the coaching, this is Burris’ second stint in the NFL as he was the Dolphins assistant defensive backs coach from 2013-15. He was LSU’s co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach last year.

Manuel, meanwhile, enters his 13th season coaching in the NFL, the last four spent as the Jets’ defensive backs/safeties coach.

“We’re trying to teach (Banks) what to do, show him how to do it and really demand that they do it that way,” Daboll said. “It’s ultimately the responsibility of the player to go out there and do that.”

Regardless of how much Banks improves — or whether he even secures a starting job this summer — the Giants should be able to perform better in the secondary with the additions of Adebo and safety Jevon Holland, plus a defensive front which should be among the NFL’s best.

“I think just knowing that you’ve got a dominant front up there that can get after the quarterback, that can stop the run and put pressure on quarterbacks,” Adebo said, “it makes them able to try to get the ball out quicker and helps us on the back end as far as timing, rushing coverage, working together.”

Adebo, the Saints’ third-round pick in 2021, ranked among the league leaders in passes defended in the last two seasons (28 total) despite missing the final 10 games last season with a broken femur.

He signed a three-year, $54 million deal with the Giants to become the league’s 14th-highest paid corner.

“For me, it’s about being present, being where your feet are, and obviously that situation led me here,” Adebo said of his broken femur. “I’m incredibly grateful, honestly, that that happened because I’m in the position I’m in right now with a great team, great group of guys, and a great opportunity.”

Second-year safety Tyler Nubin is impressed with the example that Adebo is setting for the younger defensive backs.

“I think all the corners are learning from him,” Nubin said. “He’s a guy that’s not afraid to talk and let you know what he’s thinking, his techniques and things that he likes to work on. I think the corners are doing a really great job just working with him and allowing that to happen.”

Still, Adebo said he feels there are position battles for everyone — even himself — until the Giants make their depth chart official. In camp, that makes for especially fun battles between receivers and defensive backs, such as Adebo matching up with rising star Malik Nabers.

“He’s just so explosive,” Adebo said. “I think his ability to get in and out of his releases, in and out of his breaks, the suddenness which he moves with that all the elite receivers have, I think that’s something that makes him incredibly tough to cover.”

Banks likely won’t be tasked with covering that level of receiver this year if all goes according to plan. The Giants hope that will help get his NFL career on track.

“Just getting better at finishing plays and being a better me,” Banks said.

Originally Published: July 30, 2025 at 1:14 PM EDT